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THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN Date Effective: November 12, 1975 Date Revised: July 30, 1991 Date Revised: February 29, 2000 Date Revised: February 28, 2008 POLICY
AND PROCEDURE MEMORANDUM ACADEMIC PROGRAMS - 10 SUBJECT: Master
of Science Degree INTRODUCTION This
memorandum contains the following information concerning minimal requirements
for the Master of Science degree at the Bloomberg School of Public Health: I. ADMINISTRATIVE
REQUIREMENTS D. Submission
of Approved Thesis in Prescribed Format II. CERTIFICATIONS BY THE FACULTY A. Comprehensive
Written Examination in Principal Subject B. Master
of Science Thesis and Faculty Evaluation Departments
may set additional requirements beyond those listed herein. I. ADMINISTRATIVE
REQUIREMENTS
A. Academic Prerequisites
Policy Degrees and subject matter: Baccalaureate or higher degree in arts,
science, or medicine, or equivalent. The
student must have completed a major in one of the physical, biological, mathematical,
or social sciences. Applicants may be
required to take and submit the results of the Aptitude Test of the Graduate
Record Examination as one of the requirements for admission at the option of
the department. Procedure Administrative Clearance: Acceptance is by approval of the department
chairman and review by the Committee on Academic Standards. The student’s acceptance is tentative until
the receipt of all official and complete required transcripts. The Admissions Office is responsible for
identifying those students with missing transcripts. The Registrar’s Office will not allow such
students to register for more than two quarters. B. Residence
Policy A minimum of 64 credits is required to complete the
degree. The department offering the
degree shall determine what proportion of the required academic credits must be
taken in full-time residence and what proportion may be taken on a part-time
basis. Procedure 1. While the official records
will be maintained by the Registrar, each student and department should keep
records of residence time and credit units earned. The student’s advisor is responsible for
monitoring fulfillment of this requirement. C. “Outside” Courses
Purpose 1. To broaden perspective and
to enhance the student’s capabilities for work in health or disease-related
fields. Policy At least 12 credit units of formal coursework are
required in courses outside the student’s primary department. At least six of these credits must be taken
in the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Procedure 1. While the official records
will be maintained by the Registrar, each student and his/her department should
keep records of “outside” course units. 2. Requests for evaluation of
credits earned at other schools should be directed by the advisor, following
approval by the department chairman, to the Committee on Academic Standards. D. Submission of Approved
Thesis in Prescribed Format
See PREPARATION OF
THESIS (Attachment No. 1) E. Time Limit for Completion
Not more than four years may elapse between the
date of matriculation and fulfillment of all requirements for the master of
science degree. The matriculation date
is the first day of the quarter in which the accepted degree candidate begins
his/her coursework. The matriculation
date is not changed when a student transfers to another degree program; it does
change when a student completes one degree program and enters another. The student must be registered in the term in
which the thesis is approved. Summer
registration is required if the thesis is not approved before the first day of
the summer term. II. CERTIFICATIONS BY THE
FACULTY
A. Comprehensive Written
Examination in Principal Subject
Policy This is a departmental written examination required
of all ScM students. Purpose This examination should constitute a comprehensive
inquiry into the student’s grasp of the subject matter underlying his/her
discipline. It should explore the
student’s understanding of scientific principles and methods, as well as his/her
substantive knowledge of the major field and related areas. Procedure 1. The department arranges
for, administers, and evaluates the results of this examination. 2. Timing: The examination must be given upon completion
of the 64 credits of coursework. 3. Results: The outcome of the examination is determined
by the department; an evaluation of the student’s performance on this
examination is to be submitted to the Registrar for transmittal to the
Committee on Academic Standards. 4. If the student’s
performance is unsatisfactory, only one reexamination is permitted. B. Master of Science Thesis
and Faculty Evaluation
Policy 1. The thesis must be a) based
on original research, b) worthy of publication, and c) acceptable to the sponsoring Department
and to a committee of thesis readers. The ScM thesis differs from a doctoral
thesis in quantity rather than quality, being a scholarly document of lesser
scope and depth. 2. The evaluation of the
thesis shall be conducted by a committee of thesis readers after the Department
agrees that the candidate is ready. For
this evaluation individual committee readers shall evaluate: a) the originality and publication potential
of the research; b) the candidate’s understanding of the details of the
methodologic and analytic work; and c) the final quality of the written thesis
document. An oral defense of the thesis
may be required by some Departmental Programs. Procedure 1. Timing A request for the
formation of a committee of thesis readers should be made by the student’s
advisor at least 4 weeks prior to the expected completion date. Committee members are encouraged and expected
to work closely with the student, making specific recommendations for changes
in the thesis as needed. 2. Certification of
Fulfillment of all Requirements and Nomination for Degree On the form requesting
appointment of the committee of readers, the Department chair will certify that
all School and Departmental requirements for the degree have been
fulfilled. This is considered to be a
nomination for the degree. 3. Committee of Readers The Committee on Academic
Standards shall, upon recommendation of the student’s Department chair, approve
a committee of four readers, including the student’s thesis advisor, who serves
as a Departmental reader. The readers
should be at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher. A minimum of three
Departments of the University, two being from the Bloomberg School of Public
Health, must be represented. Two readers
must be from the student’s department; however, with the approval of the
Committee on Academic Standards, the Department may nominate an individual from
outside the Department to replace a Departmental reader. At least one reader must have neither a
primary nor joint appointment in the student’s Department. One adjunct faculty member may serve on the
committee, and the committee of readers may be increased to five members,
provided that the conditions stated above are satisfied for four readers. 4. Report of Readers It is the responsibility
of the thesis advisor to ascertain that all suggested revisions are
incorporated into the final copy of the thesis.
It shall be the individual responsibility of the readers to verify that
any revisions suggested by them have been appropriately incorporated into the
final copy. When the thesis is deemed
acceptable, each reader shall submit a letter to this effect to the Registrar
for the attention of the Associate Dean responsible for student academic
affairs. It is the advisor’s
responsibility to ascertain that each reader has filed the letter with the
Associate Dean; the student is not considered to have completed the thesis
until all specific changes have been made and all letters have been
received. Should there be a conflict
between the student and a committee member that holds up submission of a
letter, this shall be resolved by the thesis advisor, or if that is not
possible, by the Committee on Academic Standards. It is to be emphasized that completion of the
degree is not finalized until the student deposits the requisite number of
final bound copies of the thesis with the Registrar. |
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